1971 Fresno State Bulldogs football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1971 Fresno State Bulldogs football Pacific Coast Athletic Association CCAA 6–5 3–2 Darryl Rogers 6th Bob Padilla 4th Ratcliffe Stadium Mercy Bowl L 14–17 at Cal State Fullerton The 1971 Fresno State Bulldogs football team represented Fresno State College—now known as California State University, Fresno—as a member of the Pacific Coast Athletic Association (PCAA) during the 1971 NCAA University Division football season. Led by sixth-year head coach Darryl Rogers, Fresno State compiled an overall record of 6–5 with a mark of 3–2 in conference play, placing third in the PCAA. The Bulldogs played their home games at Ratcliffe Stadium on the campus of Fresno City College in Fresno, California. At the end of the season, a charity bowl game was played to benefit the children of three Cal State Fullerton coaches and a pilot who had been killed in an airplane crash a month earlier. The game was called Mercy Bowl II, and was played on December 11 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Schedule Pacific September 11 l y Cal State Hayward Ratcliffe Stadium Fresno, CA 14–18 11,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/oakland-tribune-jacinto-leads-pioneers-t/182043525/ Oakland Tribune Jacinto leads Pioneers to 18–14 victory September 12, 1971 September 29, 2025 Newspapers.com September 18 7:30 p.m. w San Jose State Ratcliffe Stadium Fresno, CA rivalry 14–7 9,500 https://www.newspapers.com/article/santa-cruz-sentinel-fresno-shocks-sparta/182042685/ Santa Cruz Sentinel Fresno shocks Sparta September 19, 1971 September 29, 2025 Newspapers.com September 25 l y y Montana State Gatton Field Bozeman, MT 28–37 7,500 San Diego St. in Slump, Bows to Southern Mississippi, 10-0 The Los Angeles Times Los Angeles, California September 26, 1971 D-14 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/9562793/san_diego_state_in_slump_bows_to/ Newspapers.com March 14, 2017 October 2 w y Hawaii Ratcliffe Stadium Fresno, CA rivalry 19–8 9,441 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99625250/bulldogs-crush-islanders-198/ The Fresno Bee Bulldogs crush Islanders 19–8 October 3, 1971 April 12, 2022 Newspapers.com October 16 w y y Cal Poly Mustang Stadium San Luis Obispo, CA 13–10 8,500 Metcalf Leads 49ers Past Diablos, 36–7 The Los Angeles Times Los Angeles, California October 17, 1971 D-16 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/9562922/metcalf_leads_49ers_past_diablos/ Newspapers.com March 14, 2017 October 23 w Cal State Los Angeles Ratcliffe Stadium Fresno, CA 47–7 7,723 Diablos Lose to Fresno St., 47–7 Independent Press-Telegram Long Beach, California October 24, 1971 S-2 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8737456/diablos_lose_to_fresno_st/ Newspapers.com February 3, 2017 October 30 w San Diego State Ratcliffe Stadium Fresno, CA rivalry 17–10 11,140 San Diego St. Suffers 17–10 Loss to Fresno The Los Angeles Times Los Angeles, California October 31, 1971 D-16 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/9563000/san_diego_st_suffers_loss_to_fresno/ Newspapers.com March 14, 2017 November 5 l y Long Beach State Veterans Stadium Long Beach, CA 13–30 10,310 https://www.newspapers.com/article/press-telegram-10310-see-lb-crush-fre/182042119/ Independent Press-Telegram 10,310 see L.B. crush Fresno, 30–13 November 6, 1971 September 29, 2025 Newspapers.com November 13 w y Valley State Ratcliffe Stadium Fresno, CA 23–7 5,457 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-fresno-bee-fresno-state-defense-stop/182043702/ The Fresno Bee Fresno State defense stops Matadors in 23–7 victory November 14, 1971 September 29, 2025 Newspapers.com November 20 7:30 p.m. l y Pacific (CA) Pacific Memorial Stadium Stockton, CA 13–14 5,719–10,000 Cal Lutheran Wins, Awaits NAIA Bid The Los Angeles Times Los Angeles, California November 21, 1971 D-14 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/9563049/cal_lutheran_wins_awaits_naia_bid/ Newspapers.com March 14, 2017 December 11 l y y Cal State Fullerton Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA Mercy Bowl II 14–17 16,854 16,854 See Fullerton Win Mercy Bowl The Los Angeles Times Los Angeles, California Dave Distel December 12, 1971 D-1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8833307/16854_see_fullerton_win_mercy_bowl/ Newspapers.com February 8, 2017 1971 Fresno State Bulldogs Schedule and Results https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/fresno-state/1971-schedule.html College Football at Sports-Reference.com Sports Reference January 29, 2025 Final 1971 Cumulative Football Statistics Report (Fresno State) https://stats.ncaa.org/team/96/stats/12713 National Collegiate Athletic Association May 26, 2025 1971 Football Schedule https://gobulldogs.com/sports/football/schedule/1971 Fresno State Athletics January 29, 2025 Fresno State Football Media Guide https://gobulldogs.com/documents/2024/8/21/5._2024_Record_Book.pdf Fresno State Athletics 121 January 29, 2025 References Fresno State Category:Fresno State Bulldogs football seasons Fresno State Bulldogs football